September 2014 minutes

ELMIRA TOWNSHIP

OTSEGO COUNTY

SEPTEMBER 11, 2014

A regular meeting of the Elmira Township board was held on September 11, 2014 at the Elmira Township hall commencing at 6:00 p.m. with Supervisor, Diane Franckowiak calling the meeting to order with the Pledge of Allegiance.

Members present were Supervisor, Diane Franckowiak , Clerk, Susan Schaedig, Treasurer, Diane Purgiel and Trustees, Dale Holzschu and Leonard Skop.

Others in attendance were Judge George Mertz, Assessor Debbie Dunham, Township PC Chair, Duane Hoffman, residents, Dave Johannigsmeier and Rocky Wright.

Leonard made a motion to accept the minutes as presented.  Seconded by Dale and carried.

PUBLIC COMMENT:

            Judge Mertz asked the board for support in the upcoming November election.

READING OF THE BILLS:

            10692  Accident Fund, workmen’s comp                                                      765.00

            10693  Michigan Township’ Association, registration Diane F                        79.00

            10694  Purchase Power, Pitney Bowes postage                                             500.00

            10695  Municipal Underwriters of Mich, Inc.                                             6,875.00

            10696  Crossroads Industries, Inc, clean-up day postcards                           426.37

            10697  Susan Schaedig, clerk’s salary                                                         1,059.91

            10698  Sandra Purgiel, deputy treasurer wages                                              159.00

            10699  Ron Geiger, Ordinance Officer, Liquor Inspector salary                   243.78

            10700  Paul Hartmann, PC mtg                                                                      110.00

            10701  Leonard Skop, trustee salary                                                              128.83

            10702  Jay Maufort, PC mtg                                                                          110.00

            10703  Duane Hoffman, PC mtg                                                                    110.00

            10704  Diane Purgiel, treasurer’s salary                                                       1,533.49

            10705  Diane Franckowiak, Supervisor’s salary                                          1,478.66

            10706  Dale Holzschu, trustee salary & PC mtg                                            238.83

            10707  Barbara Lewandowski, deputy treasurer wages                                   78.75

            10708  WalMart, election supplies                                                                      8.57

            10709  Spartan Sewer & Septic                                                                        90.00

            10710  GBS, Inc, accucoding test deck, Primary election 8-5-2014              350.00

            10711  D & D Assessing                                                                             1,700.00

            10712  Barbara Lewandowski, reimb  mileage                                                   5.60

            10713  Diane Purgiel, reimb mileage, phone, internet                                    149.20

            10714  Diane Franckowiak, reimb phone, internet, use of computer               50.00

            10715  Alpine Web                                                                                           16.00

            10716  Calvin Thomas, wages hall cleaning                                                   118.75

            10717  Pitney Bowes                                                                                        85.05

            10718  GBS Inc, master registration box                                                       106.68

            10719  Waste Management                                                                            112.92

            10720  Dunn’s Business Solutions, 2 color copies                                             3.00

            10721  Young, Graham & Elsenheimer, P.C., medical marijuana                    62.00

            10722  Anthony Esson, school bell                                                             1,000.00

            10723  Otsego County Historical Society, donation                                      100.00

            10724  Susan Schaedig, reimb, mileage, phone & Internet                              88.80

            10725  Great Lakes Energy                                                                            449.66

            10726  CenturyLink                                                                                          44.75

            10727  Michigan Dept of Treasury, taxes, July, Aug, September                  720.62

            E-Pay  September, 2014 taxes                                                                        671.06

                                                                                                                               19,829.28

            Dale made a motion to pay the bills.  Seconded by Diane P and carried unanimously.

TREASURER’S REPORT:

            Diane P reported that there is an increased use of taxpayers using First Merit Bank to pay their taxes.

            First Merit has reimbursed all the fees that had been charged to the township.

            The Postage machine is working out very well.

M Bank CD 102,233.94  SVGS 82,009.12   NWST  CD  110,211.39 

First Fed ICS  230,974.19   Ckg  43,461.64  TOTAL 568,890.28

 Tax Svgs  21,926.15  Tax Ckg  6,000.00  TOTAL  27,926.15

PLANNING COMMISSION REPORT:

            Duane explained to the board that Brett Cook may not be requesting a variance for an indoor archery facility at Hallock/Vega Roads.  Mr. Cook appeared at the Elmira Township PC meeting in August, 2014 with some basic information.  The PC advised them of the process and the information they needed to take to Architect, Todd Siedell who will prepare the needed paper work to submit to Land Use Services.

            Duane also reported that there have been several complaints in regard to Boyne Valley Auction.  Mr. Hoffman has made a formal complaint but he has not heard from Land Use or Mr. Biehling.

OLD BUSINESS:

            Rocky stated that he will have the bell and canopy taken from the Elmira School site and store it at Jim Theisen’s barn.

            He and Glen Kelso will restore it and build a structure to place it on at the original Elmira School site(Elmira Township Park) in the spring of 2015.

            The board reviewed Debbie Dunham’s Assessing Agreement/Contract. 

            Leonard made a motion to accept the Assessing Agreement/Contract with D & D Assessing Service  with Addendums from August 31, 2014 through August 31, 2016.

Seconded by Diane P and carried unanimously.

Addendums are as follows:

Purpose and Intent   and the assessment of the municipality.  Examples are deadlines for assessment roll, tax roll, warrants, etc…

Start and Completion   During this time, the D & D Assessing Service will assess/reassess/inspect 20% of the township each year which is the recommendation of the State Tax Commission.  A biannual report will be delivered to Elmira Township Board for the February and August meetings showing progress in this reassessment and other assessing duties.

Tax Tribunal

Tax Tribunal  Judgments, State PRE Denials, Board of Review Actions to the Township Treasurer within 48 hours of receipt of said judgments/actions.

            The Township Clean-Up day is scheduled for Saturday, September 20, 2014.

            Attorney, Bryan Graham will monitor the new Marijuana legislation and when the law is passed he will draw up an ordinance.

NEW BUSINESS:

            Sue made a motion to accept the 2014 Tax Rate Request(L-4029).  Township Allocated millage .8850 and the fire department operating 1.0000.  Seconded by Diane P and carried unanimously.

            Diane P made a motion to donate $100.00 to the Otsego County Historical Society.  Seconded by Sue and carried unanimously.

            Diane P stated that the Otsego County Road Committee will be at the Township Association meeting at Corwith on October 21, 2014 to discuss the proposed roads to receive millage money which will depend on the need for repairs.

            Elmira board members received a FOIA request from Professional Finders seeking certain financial information.

            Diane F contacted attorney, Bryan Graham who felt that there is a strong likelihood that the request is in fact a scam. He suggested  to respond in the following manner:

            Because your request was made pursuant to the New York Freedom of Information Law, Elmira Township is not subject to that statute.

Therefore, your request is denied on that basis.

            To the extent you are making a request for public records under the Michigan Freedom of Information Act, your request is denied under MCL 15.243(1) (d), since those financial records are protected under MCL 488.12.

            There being no further business to come before the board Leonard made a motion to adjourn.  Seconded by Dale and carried.  Meeting adjourned at 7:30 p.m.

Susan Schaedig, Clerk